X-ray Device Patent Granted In 4 Countries And Counting

​GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN–(12 November 2018) Luxbright AB, a Swedish manufacturer of innovative microfocus X-ray tubes, is pleased to announce that its X-ray Device patent application has now been granted by the European Patent Office, Russian Federation, Mexico, and South Africa. The approvals mark a significant milestone for the company and validate the uniqueness of its X-ray innovation.

The grant of this patent secures broad intellectual property protections at the foundation of the superior microfocus X-ray technology Luxbright aims to bring to the market. The patent relates to a novel X-ray device which utilizes hybrid emissions. By providing an electron emitter which is more compatible with Schottky based emission, more portable and versatile devices can be made to provide X-ray images at various resolutions and contrast levels. 

Luxbright’s Chief Science Officer, Dr. Qiu-Hong Hu, chose to use Zinc Oxide (ZnO) for its high melting temperature, chemical stability, and equally attractive field emission performance to carbon nano-tubes (CNT’s). In doing so, it helps compensate for the limitations in the properties of standard hot-cathodes and CNT based cold-cathodes. 

Dr. Hu explains that “...there are inherent disadvantages with the 100-year-old filament based X-ray tube technology. One example is the higher operating temperatures which require larger cooling mechanisms. This limits the possibilities for ultra-portable devices. Hot-cathode filaments are also prone to failures and can degrade quickly over time, just as the old light bulbs once did in our homes.”

By utilizing Zinc Oxide (ZnO) nanostructures, Luxbright’s technology can overcome many of the challenges associated with field emission cathodes. ZnO is a robust material that can withstand the temperatures and environment of the typical X-ray tube manufacture process. It is also an ideal electron emitting source capable of achieving output levels for practical applications such as mammography or baggage scanning. Lastly, an extraordinary feature of the new tube will be its plug-n-play compatibility with existing imaging devices. Devices currently in use can improve their performance simply by installing Luxbright tubes and device makers can create entirely new smaller, safer, and more power efficient devices.

The uniqueness of one of Luxbright’s innovations being validated through a secured patent is an important event. The related technology the company is bringing to the market aims to overcome the drawbacks related to conventional X-ray tubes as well as the limitations of newer nanotechnologies being used in X-ray tubes. All of this is helping bring the company one step closer to helping realize better X-ray imaging everywhere.